Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB352: An Act to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-102 and 18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-83.6:1, relating to law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; penalty.
Status: Chaptered, May 20, 2026
Law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; penalty. Prohibits any law-enforcement officer, defined in the bill, from wearing a facial covering, defined in the bill, while engaged in the performance of his official duties. The bill sets out several exceptions to such prohibition, including protective facial coverings to protect against disease, infection, and exposure to toxic substances and facial coverings worn by any law-enforcement officer assigned to a special weapons and tactics team while engaged in the performance of his official duties with such team. The bill subjects the law-enforcement officer to disciplinary action, including dismissal, demotion, suspension, transfer, or decertification, and creates a Class 1 misdemeanor for any law-enforcement officer who wears a facial covering in violation of the provisions of the bill unless the law-enforcement agency that employs such law-enforcement officer has adopted and established a written policy for and restrictions on the use of facial coverings. The bill also directs the Department of Criminal Justice Services to develop a model policy for and restrictions on the use of facial coverings by law-enforcement officers. This bill is identical to HB 1482.
What the bill says
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-102 and 18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-83.6:1, relating to law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; penalty. [S 352] Approved May 20, 2026 1. That §§ 9.1-102 and 18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 19.2-83.6:1 as follows: § 9.1-102. Powers and duties of the Board and the Department. The Department, under the direction of the Board, which shall be the policy-.
From the enrolled text, May 20, 2026:
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 9.1-102 and 18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-83.6:1, relating to law-enforcement officers; restrictions on wearing of facial coverings; exceptions; penalty. [S 352] Approved May 20, 2026 1. That §§ 9.1-102 and 18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 19.2-83.6:1 as follows: § 9.1-102. Powers and duties of the Board and the Department. The Department, under the direction of the Board, which shall be the policy-making body for carrying out the duties and powers hereunder, shall have the power and duty 2. Establish compulsory minimum training standards subsequent to employment as a law-enforcement officer in (i) permanent positions and (ii) temporary or probationary status and establish the time required for completion of such training. Such compulsory minimum training standards shall include crisis intervention training in accordance with clause (i) of § 9.1-188; 3. Establish minimum training standards and qualifications for certification and recertification for law-enforcement officers serving as field training officers; 4. Establish compulsory minimum curriculum requirements for in-service and advanced courses and programs for schools, whether located in or outside the Commonwealth, which are operated for the specific purpose of training law-enforcement officers; 5. …